Pottery ware transferring machine



April 26, 1949- w. J. MILLER POTTERY WARE TRANSFERRING MACHINE 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 8, 1945 v HLIVENIOR. Vyzizzam d. MACe1" BY (QWW/ T MJ 44 rTOP/vEYS April 1949- w. J. MILLER POTTERY WARETRANSFERRING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 8, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7056&5 $55 70 633 I INVENTOA'R. MM/d/W/M/kfi A TT NE Y.

April 26, 1949. w, J, MILLER 2,468,405

POTTERY WARE TRANSFERRING MACHINE Original Filed Jan, 8, 1945 sSheets-Sheet a b, Mzl

INVENTOR- M'///'0/77//%///e/r BY I 3 W 2i Arro ga Patented Apr. 26, 1949POTTERY WARE TRANSFERRING MACHINE William J. Miller, Swissvale, Pa.,assignor to Miller Pottery Engineering Company, Swissvale, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Original application January 8, 1943, SerialNo.

Divided and this application October 11, 1944, Serial No. 558,209

18 Claims.

This is a divisional of my application for patent S. N. 471,704, filedJanuary 8, 1943, now Patent No. 2,407,321, issued September 10, 1946.

This invention relates to Improvements in fiatware transferring machine.It has to do particularly with the manufacture of ware such as jiggereddinnerware, for instance, plates, cups and saucers, bowls and the like.

The mass production of pottery ware by automatic machine and processeshas involved a certain amount of manual intervention, particularly inthe treatment and preparation of raw materials and in certain phases ofclay, ware and mold transportation, manipulation and processing.

One of the objects of this invention is to place the manufacture ofpottery ware on as near a fully automatic basis as possible all the wayfrom the raw material stage to that of dried product ready for firstfiring. By substantially eliminating the human element in this respect,it is possible to remove handicaps which have heretofore interfered withthe continuity, quality and rate of production.

Another and perhaps more important object of this invention is toprovide for making simultaneously several different kinds of ware, thatis to say, ware having differences in shape, size, decorative pattern ormaterial and even composition by means of a single, unitary mechanicalorganization. This invention comprehends machinery capable of performingmany and different steps, and combinations of steps in the manufactureof pottery ware some of which are conventional steps or operations andothers of which afford new and improved ways and means of making potteryware of this class.

The machinery of the present invention is so constructed and arrangedthat different sequences of operations may be performed at the same timeand variations in the sequences and procedural steps may be made at willand in some cases while the machinery is in operation. Thus, insofar asproduction diversification is concerned, it may be varied from one whichis highly diversified to one wherein substantially little or nodiversification occurs. Thus, I provide in a single unitary installationthe means of meeting the daily requirements .of the average potterywhether it be for large or small amounts of pottery of given shape ordesign and it is well known that these requirements may vary widely.particularly if the pottery merchandizes a large number of shapes anddesigns.

Instead of the intermittent fabricating system as illustrated in thepatent to Miller No. 2,046,525, I propose to make the present systemcontinuous, somewhat as shown in the application of William J Miller,Serial No. 413,734, now Patent No. 2,409,172, issued October 8, 1946,filed October 6, 1941. That is to say, from the beginning of fabricatingoperations to the point when the ware is removed from the dryer andtherebeyond, the materials will move in continuous fashion whilst thevarious fabricating operations are performed. This makes for increasedproduction speeds and raises the capacity of the machinery. Furthermore,clay is supplied to the fabricating portion of the present mechanicalorganization by a system and apparatus disclosed in application SerialNo. 454,716, filed August 13, 1942, by William J. Miller, now Patent No.2,413,330, issued November 31, 1946.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the ware production system with certainunnecessary portions broken away.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of a rotary transfer machine of thesystem.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of one of the transfer devicesseen in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the machine of Fig. 2, as takensubstantially on the irregular section line 4'-4 of said figure.

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section taken on the section line 5-5 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan section taken substantially on the section lineB6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a motion diagram illustrating movements of certain parts ofthe machine of Fig. 2.

As illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1, the system includes anendless flexible mold conveyor 5! comprising a series of centrally openmold carriers or positionin rings 52 interconnected in equally spacedrelation by flexible links or cable sections 53. The conveyor ismaintained in a substantially horizontal plane while travellingcontinuously in a tortuous path about idler sprockets and rotarymachines of the system by having outboard supporting rollers 54 ridingon rails 55.

The molds for forming four types of ware are carried in the rings 52 induplicate successive sets which, in the course of the conveyor, arebrought into co-operative relation with a series of rotary machinesindicated at 60, El, 52 and 64 designed to respectively condition themolds, treat molds for a certain method of ware decoration, treat moldsfor another method of ware decoration, further condition the treatedmolds and treat molds for engobing certain ware. These machines areselectively used.

The molds then continue to a series of rotary machines 65, 66 and 6!designed to selectively feed clay charges of similar or of differentcomposition or conditioned clay bodies to the molds and puddle andpartially form the charges correlatively with respect to the wareforming surfaces of the molds prior to feeding. The charge feedingmachines may be supplied from an enclosed clay preparation organizationR, designed to simultaneously and continuously prepare the various claybodies desired from the various plastic and non-plastic materialsrequired and selectively feed same to the machines.

After receiving the charges, the molds continue to a series of rotarymachines indicated at H, 12, 16, 11, 18, 9!, 92 and 93 designed toselectively perform various forming, conditioning and decoratingoperations to produce the ware as more fully hereinafter described.

The molds then pass through a drier 95 for an optimum period to dry toleather hardness certain ware to be appendaged, such as cups or thelike, which are then conveyed out of the drier at a take-off station Eto a rotary machine 96 which transfers same from an upright position inthe molds to an inverted position in co-operative relation with anappendaging machine 97, the transfer machine also being designed tofettle and smooth the ware prior to being transferred.

The molds are then returned into the drier and are conveyed pasttake-off stations F and G located along the conveyor course and arebrought at predetermined points into co-operative relation, respectivelywith rotary machines 98 and 99 designed to transfer other types of ware,each requiring a different drying period, to suitable conveyingapparatus Hill and I! arranged to convey the ware to suitable locationsfor further treatment. These machines are also designed to fettle,smooth and reverse or reposition the ware incident to transferring same,if desired.

Upon leaving the drier, the molds are advanced to a rotary machine I02employed to reform thereon partly dried ware that may have becomeslightly distorted during drying and being especially of use as located,in an installation or an adaptation of the system wherein no type orware is completely dried in the dryer. However, if the system isadjusted so that the ware leaving the dryer is too dry for the reformingoperation, said machine IE2 or number of same may be disposed along theconveyor course adjacent one or each of the take-off or transferstations E, G, and F.

From the reforming machine [62, the molds continue to another rotarytransfer machine I03 co-operating with a conveying system [03a totransfer the various types of Ware that may remain on the conveyor toany one or a number of selected locations for further treatment, themachine being designed to fettle and smooth the Ware and reverse theposition thereof if desired.

Upon leaving the transfer machine I03, the empty molds are advanced to arotary machine I04 co-operating with a conveying system lMa to removeany one or all the molds of each set and transfer same to a suitablelocation for storage when changing the system over to the production ofa different type or types of ware, or when damaged or worn molds requirereplacement for repair.

The next machine H35 along the course of the conveyor is also of therotary type designed to co-operate with a conveying system 105:; for

transferring molds for a certain type or types of ware from one or morestorage locations and placing same in the emptied mold carriers in anydesired order.

The molds then continue to a rotary conditioning machine H36 designed toremove any foreign matter from the molds, and then continue to anotherconditioning machine lll'l employed to apply to all the molds, or onlythose which have just been placed'onthe conveyor, a conditioning medium,such as oil. The molds then pass through a conditioning zone I68comprising a tunnel within which the air is suitably heated or otherwiseconditioned to dry or otherwise put the molds in a proper condition asthey return to complete another cycle of operation.

Generally, the machines are of the rotary table type, about the tablesof which the conveyor meshes to remain in co-operative relation witheach machine during a sufficient portion of its rotation to perform thevarious operations on the molds or Ware.

As seen in Fig. 1, a power unit its, such as a combination motor andadjustable speed reducer is employed to constantly drive the machinesand mold conveyor in synchronism, through a power shaft l09a andsuitable gearing I091; co-operating between same and the rotary machinesI? and 93 which thus serve as driving connections for the conveyor atspaced intervals therealong and whereby the conveyor in turn serves as adriven connection for the rotary machines with which it meshes betweensaid intervals. It is also contemplated that the conveyor and any numberor all of the said rotary machines and idlers defining its course may beindependently or collectively driven in timed relation.

Ware pieces may be removed at a take-off station, for instance F or G bymachine N23 whose transfer and pick-up chucks will be contoured oradapted to fit the ware to be transferred thereby, as seen in Figure 2,and transfer them to conveyors 10311 which may be of the endless belttype,

The transfer machine we is designed to so cooperate with the conveyorsystem l03a, whereby any one or all of the various ware pieces may beremoved from the mold conveyor 5! and transported in upright or invertedposition to one or a number of different locations for further finishingoperations preparatory to firing.

Referring to Figures 2 to 6, this machine includes a base or pedestalE338 supporting an upright hollow shaft 63! on which rotates a table 632having in its periphery four equally spaced pockets 633 and grooves 634therebetween to respectiveiy support the mold carriers and cablesections of the mold conveyor. On the table, central therewith, is asupporting drum 635 having adjacent each table pocket, a, verticalguideway 636 within which 'is reciprocably mounted upper and lowercrossheads 631 and 638.

Each lower crosshead has a bearing 639, extending therethrough rotatablysupporting a horizontal shaft 5% on whose outer end is secured asupporting head 6 31. On the head B ll is an offset angular bearing 642supporting the trunnion 6&3 of a turret E44. Mounted on the turret toextend angularly therefrom about the axis thereof, in cluster-likearrangement, are four stems E5 35 supporting at their ends;respectively, vacuum pick-up chucks 646, 641, 648 and 649 for the cup,saucer, plate and'bowl pieces and which are arranged to be brought intooperating position above the adjacent table pocket upon ad-, justment ofthe turret 644 on the head 64!. For holding the turret in adjustedpositions, same may have a series of notches 656 adapted to be engagedby a spring-pressed detent 65! on the bearing 642 (Figure 3).

Each upper crosshead has an outwardly extended bracket 655 having anangular bearing 656 supporting the trunnion 651 of a turret 658.Radiating from the turret, like the stems 645 are stems 659 at the endsof which are transfer chucks 666, 66!, 662 and 663, formed to receivethe ware pieces from the chucks 646 to 649 respectively, and which arebrought into operating position, for this purpose, in co-axial alignmentwith the table pocket therebelow, by adjustment of the turret 668. Thisturret may be held in adjusted position by means similar to thatemployed for the turret 644.

By means of an idler sheave the mold conveyor is guided to mesh with thetable 632 within a very short arch about its axis, as at the station I(Fig. 4), and as the molds are received in the table pockets 633, thepick-up chuck thereabove is caused to pick up the ware from the mold, asthe chuck is lowered and raised by its respective lower crosshead. Asthe chuck continues with the table, and assuming that the were is not tobe inverted when transferred, the chuck may be again lowered and raisedthrough the table pocket at any one of four successive stations J, K, L,or M, of the table, and caused to discharge the ware onto any one of alower series of four conveyors 661 arranged below the table tangentiallyabout the axis thereof and adapted to convey the various types of wareto difierent locations for further treatment. These conveyors may be ofthe endless belt type mounted on a frame-work 668 and so driven in timedrelation with the table, by suitable means, whereby the ware dischargedthereon will travel momentarily with the pick-up chucks until they clearsame. Thus, the ware so transferred would assume the same position onthe conveyors 661 as they assumed on or in the molds, with hollow warein upright position, and flat ware in inverted position.

The conveyors 661 may be of the endless chain type, if desired, providedwith ware supports and so driven in synchronism with the transfermachine to cause the ware to be discharged onto the supports.

If it is desired to reverse the position of the ware when transferred,each lower crosshead would be caused to continue upward after beinginitially lowered and raised at the station I, whereupon the supporthead 64! carried thereby would be rotated 180 degrees to reverse theposition of the opposite pick-up chuck thereon and then continue upwardwith the crosshead to its upper limit where the reversed ware carried bythe chuck is picked up by the transfer chuck thereabove.

As the transfer chuck then continues around with the table, it may belowered and raised, through reciprocation of its upper crosshead, at anyone of the table stations J, K, L or M, and caused to discharge the wareonto any one of an upper series of four conveyors 669 similar to theconveyors 661 and arranged thereabove on the frame-work 669, whereby theware would be conveyed thereon to the same location for furthertreatment, to which the lower conveyors are directed but in a reversedposition.

The upper crossheads 631 are reciprocated by cylinder and pistonfluid-pressure motors 612 carried on the drum 635 with adjustable stops613 on their piston rods 614 adapted to engage end bearings of thecylinders to control the limits of movement of the crossheads. Eachmotor 612 is energized from a main fluid-pressure line 615 by way of adistributor 616, a flexible conduit 611 leading therefrom a four-wayvalve 618 and flexible conduits 619. The valve 618 for each motor is ofthe oscillated type provided with a springpressed operating lever 686(Fig. 4) and secured to the upper end portion of an upright pipe 683adjustable in bearings 684 and 685 of the drum and table to bring thevalve lever into co-operative relation with either one of a set of fourstationary cams 686 mounted on the central shaft 63I to respectivelyactuate the valve in causing reciprocation of the crosshead of its unitat the various table stations-J, K, L, or M.

The lower crossheads 638 are reciprocated by cylinder and pistonfluid-pressure motors 699 carried by the table 632 with their pistonrods 694 extending upward into connection with the crossheads. When alower crosshead is operated to transfer ware to one of the upperconveyors 669 upon leaving the table station I, it is held in anintermediate starting position between the limits of its stroke by itsrespective piston rod having an arm 695 provided at its end with aroller 696 adapted to ride upon the edge of a stationary disc 691 on thecentral shaft, as seen at the left end of Fig. 2. When the crosshead islowered at the station I, to pick up the ware, the roller 696 passesthrough an arcuate notch 698 in the edge of the disc 691 and momentarilyrides upon the edge of a disc segment 699 to limit downward movement ofthe crosshead. As the crosshead continues upward to transfer the ware toits associated transfer chuck, the roller again passes through said slotand the crosshead is stopped at its uppermost limit by engaging anadjustable stop 166 on the inner side of the drum. On the return strokeof the crosshead, it is again stopped at its intermediate startingposition by the roller engaging the disc 691, as may be more clearlyunderstood by referring to Fig. '7 which comprises a developed view ofthe edges of the disc and disc segment with the path of the roller beingindicated by the heavy dot-and-dash line N.

Each lower crosshead is confined to a lower zone of action whentransferring ware to either one of the lower set of four conveyors 661by being so reciprocated that its upward movement is limited by theroller 696 thereof engaging the under side of the disc 691, and itsdownward movement at any one of the table stations J, K, L or M islimited by the roller engaging an adjustable stop 16! carried by thetable. To accomplish this, the timing of the lowering and raising of thecrosshead at the table station I is advanced and retarded respectivelyto prevent the roller from passing upward through the arcuate notch 698in the disc 691, as seen in Figure '7, with the path of the roller beingindicated by the light dot-and-dash line 0.

The fluid motors 693 are energized from the main pressure line 615 byelements like those employed for the motors 612 and including adistributor 104 and four-Way valves arranged on the pipes 683 foradjustment therewith into co-operative relation with either one of fourcams 166 arranged on the central shaft to respectively actuate thevalves in causing reciprocation of the lower crossheads of their unitsat the station I and either one of the stations J, K, L or M, whentransferring ware to the lower conveyors 661.

When the lower valve 105 of a transfer unit is positioned to be operatedby one of the cams 106, the lever of its associated upper valve 618 isabove the plane of the set of cams 686 and maintained in position tohold the upper crossheads elevated while the unit is transferring wareto one of the lower conveyors 661. When said upper valve of the unit isset to be operated by one of the cams 585, in transferring ware to oneof the upper conveyors 669, the lower valve 105 is positioned to beoperated by a cam 101 to cause reciprocation of the lower crosshead onlyat the table station I in transferring the ware from the main moldconveyor to the transfer chuck of the unit.

To enable the employment of a liquid pressure medium for the fluidmotors, if desired, the exhaust ports of the valves 618 and 105 may beinconstant communication with a waste line 108 by way of the pipes 683 andflexible conduits T09 co-operating between same and a distributor MB onthe central shaft 53!.

The active transfer and pick-up chucks of each machine unit arevacuumized during the different periods required to transfer the cups tothe various table stations J, K, L, or M by same being connected to avacuum line H4 by way of a distributor H411 common to both, and threeway valves H5 and H6 for the chucks respectively, mounted on the pipe683 of the unit. The valve H5 is operated in accordance with theadjustment of its associated valve 618 by either one of a series of fourcams "5a on the central shaft. The valve H6 is operated in accordancewith the adjustment of its associated valve 105 by either one of aseries of four cams "6a, when the unit is transferring ware to the lowerconveyors, or operated by a cam H 62; when transferring ware to theupper conveyors.

The pipes 583 may be held in vertically adjusted positions by indexingmeans comprising a series of notches 683a arranged along the sidethereof and adapted to be engaged by a set screw 6831; in the bearing685 supporting the pipe (see Fig. 2).

When a pick-up chuck is in operating position on its turret, the serviceport of the valve H6 of the unit connects therewith through a flexibleconduit H1, interconnected passages H8 and H9 in the crosshead 638 andsupport head 642 carried thereby and a passage 720 in the turretarranged to be brought into register with the passage H9 When the turretis rotated to bring the chuck into operating position. The passages H8and H9 are maintained interconnected during rotation of the support head642 on the crosshead by way of an annular passage 12! formed between thecontacting bearing faces of the heads.

The transfer chucks 662 may be likewise connected with their respectivevalves H5, with the exception that the passage in each crosshead 63!would register directly with any one of the passages in the turret 658carried thereby.

Each supporting head B ll is rotated 180 degrees during the intermediateportion of the upper range of movement of its respective crosshead 638,by its shaft 640 having a segmental gear 640d arranged to cooperate witha stationary vertical rack 6462) on the inner side of the drum 635. Tohold the pick-up chucks in alignment with the molds and transfer chucksduring the end portions of the range of movement thereof with theircrossheads, on the side of each gear seam is provided a square holdingblock 6400 arranged to engage spaced guide portions MM along the edge ofa vertical guide bar Mlle on the side of the rack 6413b.

In view of the many advantages attained by this transfer machine intransferring the various types of ware to any one or a number oftreatment stations in inverted or upright position, in someinstallations of the system it may be desirable to employ similarmachines at the take-on station F and G instead of adaptations of thetransfer machine 95.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware comprising, a su port forcarrying molds with dried ware thereon in a curved path through a weretransfer zone, conveying means arranged at different levels for carryingware away from said zone, ware transferring means at each level, one ofwhich is operable to pick up ware from the molds'and deliver it to theother transfer means or to one of the conveying means, and means for Imoving all of said transfer means in a curved path concentric with theaxis of curvature of the support in the ware transfer zone.

2. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware comprising, a support forcarrying molds with dried ware thereon in a curved path through a waretransfer zone, conveying means arranged at different levels for carryingware away from said zone, ware transferring means at each level, one ofwhich is operable to pick up ware from the molds and deliver it to theother transfer means in inverted position or to one of the conveyingmeans in uninvertecl position and means for moving all of said transfermembers in a path concentric with the axis of curvature of the supportin the ware transfer zone.

3. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising, asupport for carrying molds with dried ware thereon in a curved paththrough a ware transfer zone, a transfer member continuously movable ina circular path in said zone, conveying means for carrying ware awayfrom said zone, means operable to lower and raise the transfor memberadjacent the support to pick up ware from the molds, and tolower andraise the transfer adjacent the conveying means to deposit ware thereon,a second conveyor for carrying ware away from said zone at anotherlevel, a ware transfer member associated therewith arranged to receiveware from the first named transfer and deliver the ware to the secondnamed conveyor and means for moving all of said transfer members in apath concentric with the axis of curvature of the support in the waretransfer zone.

4. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising anendless conveyor having ware supports for carrying molds bearing wereinto a ware transfer zone, conveying means for carrying the ware awayfrom said zone, a rotatable table in said zone provided with recessesfor receiving said ware supports, a transfer member above and inregister with each recess and rotatable with said table, means formoving said transfer downwardly to engage ware on said molds and thenupwardly to remove ware therefrom and then downwardly through a recessto deposit ware on said conveying means.

5. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising anendless conveyor having supports for carrying molds bearing ware in anarcuate path through a ware transfer zone. ware 9v conveying means forcarrying ware away from said zone, a rotatable table in said zoneprovided with recesses for receiving ware supports, said table beingpositioned at a level above said conveying means, a transfer memberabove and in register with each recess and rotatable with said table,means for moving said transfer downwardly to engage ware on said moldsand then upwardly to remove ware therefrom and then downwardly through arecess to deposit ware on said conveying means and means for moving saidtable and said endless conveyor.

6. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising asupport for carrying molds with dried ware thereon in an arcuate paththrough a ware transfer zone, a rotatable table in said zone providedwith recesses for receiving mold supports, conveying means for carryingware away from said zone positioned below said rotatable table, atransfer member above and in register with each recess, means for movingsaid transfer member in a path concentric with the axis of curvature ofthe path of travel of the support through the ware transfer zone andmeans for moving said transfer downwardly to engage ware on said moldsand then upwardly to remove ware therefrom and then downwardly through arecess in the table to deposit ware on said conveying means.

7. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising anendless conveyor having mold supports arranged for carrying moldsbearing Ware in an arcuate path through a ware transfer zone, arotatable table in said zone provided with recesses for receiving saidware supports, ware conveying means arranged above and below saidrotatable table for carrying ware away from said zone and ware transfermeans arranged to move in an arcuate path with the axis of curvature ofthe path of the endless conveyor in the ware transfer zone for removingware from the molds and transferring some of the ware up to the level ofthe upper conveying means and some of the ware down to the level of thelower conveying means.

8. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising anendless conveyor having mold supports for carrying molds bearing warethrough a transfer zone, conveying means for carrying ware away fromsaid zone operating at a lower level than the endless conveyor, arotatable table in said zone operating at the level of the endlessconveyor and having recesses therein for receiving said ware supports,an angularly movable transfer member above and in register with eachrecess and means for vertically moving said transfer members to liftware from the molds and carry the ware downwardly through a recess anddeposit the ware on the conveying means therebelow.

9. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising, anendless flexible conveyor provided with spaced mold carriers forcarrying molds to an emptying station, a rotatable member at theemptying station formed with peripheral recesses for receiving the moldcarriers and moving with them for several degrees of the full circle ofrotation of the member, a ware transfer device above each recess andmovable therewith, a ware conveyor positioned at another level relativeto tne level of the recesses and overlapping the of travel thereof andmeans for moving each ware transfer device upwardly to lift were fromthe molds whilst the mold carriers are in association with the recesses,and downwardly over 10 an empty recess to deposit ware on said wareconveyor.

10. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising, anendless flexible conveyor having spaced mold carriers for carrying moldsto an emptying station, a rotatable member having spaced recesses forreceiving mold carriers and moving with them for several degrees of thefull circle of rotation of the recesses, a ware conveyor positioned at alevel above and overlying the circle of rotation of the recesses, waretransferring means above each recess and movable therewith, and meansfor actuating the ware transferring means to lift ware from a mold whena mold carrier is in association with a recess and elevate and depositthe were on the ware conveyor when the recess is empty.

11. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising anendless flexible conveyor having spaced mold carriers for carrying moldsto an emptying station, a rotatable member having spaced recesses forreceiving mold carriers and moving with them for several degrees of thefull circle of rotation of the recesses, a ware conveyor below the levelof the member and in line with the circle of rotation of the recesses, aware transfer member above each recess and movable therewith and meansfor raising the transfer member to lift ware from a mold when a moldcarrier is in association with a recess and for lowering the transfermember to lower ware through the recess and deposit the same on the wareconveyor when the recess is empty.

12. Apparatus for transferring dinnerware and the like comprising, anendless flexible conveyor having spaced mold carriers for carrying moldsto an emptying station, a rotatable member having spaced recesses forreceiving mold carriers and moving with them for several degrees of thefull circle of rotation of the recesses, a ware conveyor above the levelof the member and overlying the path of travel of the recesses, aninvertable ware transfer member above each recess and movable therewith,a second ware transfer member above the first ware transfer member andmovable therewith for receiving ware from the first transfer member anddelivering ware to the ware conveyor and means for actuating saidtransfer member as they revolve with the rotatable member.

13. Apparatus for automatically transferring potteryware from place toplace comprising, a movable ware carrier, a ware pickup member adjacentthereto, rotatable about a vertical axis for removing ware from saidcarrier, a vertically movable ware pickup member thereabove forreceiving ware from said first pickup member and rotatable about saidaxis, and means for elevating said first pickup member and turning itabout another axis, to invert the ware removed from the carrier therebyand present the ware to the second pickup member.

14. Apparatus for automatically transferring potteryware from place toplace comprising, a movable ware carrier, a ware pickup member adjacentthereto rotatable about a vertical axis for removing ware from saidcarrier, a vertically movable ware pickup member thereabove forreceiving ware from said first pickup member and rotatable about saidaxis, and means for turning said first pickup member about another axisto invert ware removed from the carrier thereby and means for verticallymoving said second named pickup member to engage and lift ware from thefirst pickup member.

15, Apparatus for automatically transferring potteryware from place toplace comprising, a movable ware carrier, a Ware pickup member adjacentthereto rotatable about a vertical axis, a second ware pickup memberabove said first pickup member rotatable about said axis, means forrotating said first named. pickup member about another axis to raise andinvert vware removed from the carrier thereby and means for moving oneof said members relative to the other to efiect a transfer of waretherebetween.

16. Apparatus for automatically transferring potteryware from place toplace comprising, a movable ware carrier, a ware pickup member adjacentthereto rotatable about a vertical axis, a second ware pickup memberabove said first pickup member rotatable about said axis, a gear forrotating said first named pickup member about another axis to invertware removed from the carrier thereby and means for moving one of saidmembers relative to the other to efiect a transfer of ware therebetween.

17. Apparatus for automatically transferring potteryware from place toplace comprising, a movable ware carrier, a ware pickup member adjacentthereto rotatable about a vertical axis, a second ware pickup memberabove said first pickup member rotatable about said axis, a gear forrotating said first named pickup member about another axis to invertware removed from the carrier thereby and means for moving one of saidmembers relative to the other to effect a transfer of ware therebetweensaid pickup members each being formed with plural vacuum pickup devicesshaped as between devices to co-operate with various forms of Ware.

18. Apparatus for automatically transferring potteryware from place toplace comprising, a. movable ware. carrier, 2. ware pickup memberadjacent thereto rotatable about a vertical axis, a second ware pickupmember abovesaid first pick up member rotatable about said axis, a gearfor rotating said. first named pickup member about another axis toinvert ware removed from the carrier thereby and means for moving. oneof said members relative to the other to efiect a transfer of waretherebetween. said pickup members each being formed with plural, vacuumpickup devices rotatable about an axis into and out of service positionand shaped, as between devices to cooperate with various forms of ware,vacuum connections associated with each device and a source of vacuumcommon to all or them.

MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,461,222 Myers July 10, 19231,712,907 Stenhouse May 14, 192.9 1,887,211 Mortimer Nov. 8, 19321,906,604 Hutchinson May 2, 1933 1,987,336 Powell -enn mma- Jan. 8, 19352,198,068 Wadsworth Apr. 23,. 1940 2,359,432 McNamara "1'; Got. 3, 19442,359,433 McNamara Oct. 3, 1944

